Page 64 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Who in their right mind would divorce him?” Jennifer found a photo on her phone and held it up for them to see.
“Oh!” Harriet breathed along with a collective sigh from the other woman. “I see what you mean. The man should’ve been a freakin’ model.”
“How do you know he’s recently divorced?” Daniella looked at Caroline curiously.
“His ex-wife is a supermodel that Paige used to represent,” Caroline told them.
“Of course, his ex-wife is a supermodel,” Harriet stated, shaking her head as she stared at the photo.
“She wasn’t when they met,” Daniella told them. “She was studying nursing.”
“If you were at college with the man, why the heck didn’t you date him?” Harriet asked.
“Drake and I were more like brother and sister. We didn’t have a romantic connection,” Daniella explained.
“Danni had met Tom by then and was in love with him,” Carly told them.
“I think Plum Island will be lucky to have you both here,” Harriet exclaimed. “Especially when you have the new clinic up and running.”
The conversation switched to the clinic and new library that Daniella and Alex were planning. The following two hours passed by in a pleasant blur of friendly banter, planning thetrip to Europe until it was finally time to call it a night. Harley dropped Finn and Harriet at the hotel and hovered around while Finn walked her to her suite alongside the bodyguard that had been assigned to Harriet.
“Could we have a few moments, please?” Harriet ordered, looking from her bodyguard to Harley.
Harley nodded. He and the other man stepped away as Harriet unlocked her room and invited Finn inside. When they were finally alone, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“That was the most hair-raising thing I’ve ever done,” Harriet confessed. “Finn, I have no idea how I’ll ever be able to thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“Your happiness and safety is all I want, Harriet,” Finn’s voice was low, and his eyes darkened with emotion. “I can’t say I’m happy about you joining me on the flight to Europe.” His eyes searched hers. “I’m so worried that someone will catch wind of what we’re up to and try to stop us.”
“They won’t,” Harriet assured him. “Between my uncle, Harley, and Murphy, they’ll make sure we’re all safe.”
“I hope so,” Finn’s voice was hoarse. “Because I couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you, and that’s the truth.”
Harriet’s eyes widened at the implications behind his words, and her heart slammed into her ribs. She stared into his eyes, and her brain and mouth once again lost connection, and words escaped her.
“Thank you,” was all she could muster.
Finn nodded with a small smile. “Well, I’d better get going. There is a lot to organize if we’re going to be leaving tomorrow afternoon.”
As his words filtered through her ears, she blinked in confusion before they registered with her brain, and her eyes widened in shock. “Did you say tomorrow afternoon?” She spluttered.
“Yes,” Finn said. “Didn’t you hear when we arranged it before we left the restaurant?” He frowned at her.
No, I was too busy wishing you’d feel the same way about me as I do about you,Harriet said to him in her head. “Sorry, it’s been such a heck of a day. Most of tonight’s conversation just seemed to float around me.”
“I understand that.” Finn’s smile softened, and his eyes lit with understanding. “It has been quite an overwhelming day.”
Harriet nodded in agreement.I wish it wouldn’t end, though.She gave herself a mental shake.What the heck, Harriet. Stop mooning over the man like a sixteen-year-old.She stared at him.Stop gawking at the man and say goodnight.“Night.”Nooo. Not like that, you idiot.“Sorry, I’m tried. I mean tired.”Way to stick the landing!I’m going down in flames of embarrassment here. Why do sinkholes never appear when you freakin’ need them.
“Well, I hope you get a good night’s sleep,” Finn said with a smile. “Don’t worry about Estelle, as your security detail knows not to let her in.”
“Yay!” Harriet gave a fake cheer. “I have a security detail again.”
“It’s just until your uncle leaves and everything dies down then goes back to normal,” Finn reassured her.
“What? You mean, where I don’t see the security detail?” Harriet gave him a tight smile. “Yay.”
In her heart, she knew after this, nothing would be normal again. Harriet would have to build a new normal with a shattered heart, watching Finn from a distance again.
